Berkman's nerves tested by weather

Astros slugger comments on concerns for fans' safety

Here are some of the notable quotes from around Major League Baseball this week:

"Let me say this -- I've never been more nervous on the field in my life. Growing up in Texas, you see those kinds of storms all the time. You learn that lightning is nothing to fool around with. I'll stand out there in a rain storm all day long. But thunder and lightning, in that kind of proximity -- it's definitely a hazard.

"You have to get the fans out of there. We have to be out there. But if you give those fans a reason to hang around, they will. I think tonight was a night where they needed to be discouraged from being outside in those kind of conditions."

--Lance Berkman commenting on resuming Monday night's game against the Cubs after a delay of two hours and 45 minutes despite thunder and lightning still present near Wrigley Field. The game was finally called with one out in the bottom of the eighth after a lightning bolt struck nearby.
(Houston Chronicle)

"I played 11 or 12 years in this [Texas] organization, and I respect this organization a lot, from the office all the way to teammates I played with back then. The fans are great. They support their team all year round."

--Ivan Rodriguez commenting on his first trip to Texas since being traded from Detroit to the Yankees before the trade deadline.
(Dallas Morning News)

"I was starting to think I'd finish my career with 10."

--Texas Rangers rookie first baseman Chris Davis after hitting a home run on Sunday, his 11th of the season. It was his first home run in more than a week.
(Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

"I don't need to be recognized, but this is something nice, something to be celebrated. But I don't need an award to know how far I've come and know how far I've progressed."

--Jon Lester on being named the American League Pitcher of the Month for July. Lester was 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA in his four starts. Lester walked six, struck out 28 and worked at least seven innings in all four starts..
(Boston Herald)

"There's no more hits in it. No more hits."

--Jason Giambi on shaving off his mustache on Sunday after the team's 14-9 win over the Angels. Giambi grew the mustache earlier this year to break out of a slump.
(Newsday)

"When he hit it, I knew I had a chance at it. He put a pretty good swing on it. I just got to the wall, jumped -- a little early, actually. I tried to hang up there as long as I could. Fortunately, it went in my glove, and we were able to double him off second."

--Mets rookie left fielder Daniel Murphy commenting about a catch he made on Saturday night in Houston against the Astros. He made a leaping grab at the wall in the seventh inning and then fired a strong throw to second base.
(Newsday)

"I heard it -- whoa. I remember the catcher kind of ducked and started running off the field, and I saw [Lance] Berkman running off the field, and I said, 'Guess we're done.' Then the umpires said, 'Go in.'"

-- Mike Fontenot, Cubs infielder, on one particularly large clap of thunder that shook Wrigley Field on Monday night during a storm that produced strong winds, tornado warnings and plenty of lightning.
(MLB.com)

"They're crazier than I would be."

-- Mark DeRosa, on the large number of fans at Wrigley Field on Monday night who stuck it out through strong, dangerous storms.
(MLB.com)

"I'm having success against lefties for the first time in my life. Finally, I've got a pitch to cut away from them. Hopefully, they don't learn to hit it yet."

"Everybody in Chicago that I know -- friends and family -- were like, 'Come on, I've got a place for you to stay.'"

-- Ken Griffey Jr. on the warm reception he received from those close to him when he was traded from the Reds to the White Sox last week.
(Chicago Tribune)

"I think I had a lot of confidence coming into this year. I think that was the main issue for me -- proving to myself that I can play at this level."

-- Ryan Ludwick, last week's National League Player of the Week, discussing his attitude this season. Ludwick has 29 home runs, 82 RBIs and is hitting .307 on the year. In his award-winning week, he batted .538 with four home runs and eight RBIs.
(MLB.com)

"It felt unbelievable. Slept good for the first time in a few weeks."

-- Chris Duncan after having surgery to replace a herniated disc in his neck.
(MLB.com)

"Just see it and swing at it. We'll see the next start. If I can get a hit off that guy [Brandon Webb], I'm going to suggest I play every day. That guy's dirty."

"... I don't see why we can't be even better than we were in '06. The biggest thing is we're loose and we love to see each other do well. There's no negativity in any way. It's such a good bond as friends, not just teammates."